Man who killed wife gets life in prison
A Baytown man who fatally shot his estranged wife in the front yard of her home while her children were inside and in front of responding police was sentenced to life without parole Friday.
Elrey Gonzalez, 39, a registered sex offender, was charged with capital murder for attempting to kidnap, then killing 41-year-old Elva Gonzalez in the 1900 block of Mississippi in Baytown just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, 2016.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty to capital murder in exchange for the state promising not to seek the death penalty. Forgoing a trial also means the child he was convicted of sexually assaulting in 2005 will not have to testify in the punishment phase of a trial.
When officers arrived at the scene, they saw the woman forced out of the home by her estranged husband, who was armed with a handgun, officials said.
In the front yard, Gonzalez fired multiple times at the woman, fatally wounding her, according to police. Then an officer fired at least one shot, grazing him.
Gonzalez surrendered to police at the scene and was taken into custody.
Investigators later learned that Elva Gonzalez’s children, ages 16 and 21, were at the home at the time of the shooting. One of them had called 911. Both were unhurt.
The couple, who lived in Baytown about 25 miles east of downtown Houston, had separated months before. Gonzalez had been badgering and threatening his wife, family members said. But, they said, they never thought it would lead to violence.
Gonzalez appeared before a state district judge who approved the plea deal.